My last log went to hell; injuries, nagging issues, etc. I took a couple months off completely, started back up with 5/3/1. Lifted kind of off the cuff at an unsanctioned local comp for charity at the end of February.

Of course, since I wasn't entirely ready, the wheels came off and it was a pretty poor showing. I have been reworking my squat form for MONTHS since a back surgery, and on my 2nd squat attempt @ 440 I didn't sit back, I made depth but launched my freakin hips up HARD and immediately was damn near incapacitated from back pain.

Passed on 3rd, did a sorry 363 in bench and somehow managed to squirm my way to a 440 sumo pull for a 1243 total.

I should've pulled out after my squat, because I was in bed for 3 days, and it was a full 7 before I could dress myself.

Lol, my 185 logs today caused some serious weeble wobble, so I know the feeling. My thoughts are: if you take a step and finish the lift, chalk that muthafuqa. Maybe not to be added to a strict press number, but I sure would've given myself three reps there.

I tried to clean 225 in my socks today. My feet slid forward about a foot at the beginning of the second pull. Bar crashes from 5ft up onto the suspended wood floor with my mom in the building. Fml.

Lol, my 185 logs today caused some serious weeble wobble, so I know the feeling. My thoughts are: if you take a step and finish the lift, chalk that muthafuqa. Maybe not to be added to a strict press number, but I sure would've given myself three reps there.

I tried to clean 225 in my socks today. My feet slid forward about a foot at the beginning of the second pull. Bar crashes from 5ft up onto the suspended wood floor with my mom in the building. Fml.

I just use the same weight I'd pull from the floor with, few lbs less maybe. That's gotta be a bitch with sumo. I've got zero issue movin weight off the floor now though so they definetly helped.

It is a PITA. I wanted a bit steeper deficit as my weak spot is off the floor; can't stack plates, can't use a box or step. I had to creatively stack some rubber flooring &amp; bumper 25s. Worked though.

Hell yeah! Deficit pulls FTW. Just as long as it doesn't affect the movement. When I pull from my shoetops, I get a ton of quad drive and the bar jumps, so I can only do it from like 1" max. I'm going to try Brandon Lilly's paused deadlifts to help with the speed off of the floor. Break the plates off of the floor and hold for 1, 3, 5, or 7s. Should be twisted.

Did the early morning fasted thing. Raining like a mofo here so I just did some HIIT on the elliptical, then walked on the treadmill for 30', HR 130+.

Got my acceptance letter from Arizona State yesterday; going to work on my Master's online there, and attend University of Nebraska Med Center locally. Pretty excited-haven't been in college for like 15 years.

I'll train bench this afternoon. Prob cut back on the carbs a bit today; I know I said I wasn't going to track macros but I do/did. 400g carbs is just way too many for me. I'll prob dial those back to ~250 on training days, ~150 on non and I'll introduce a GDA as well. Pretty carb sensitive, and am prone to fat gain when I'm eating them in abundance. I'm already fat enough...I should prob be competing at 242, honestly.

This is a training day; non I usually cut out the milk, the PWO, and the white potato but the rest is generally the same.

Have I not been eating enough? I worked with Skip Hill for all of 2012 and dropped from 325 to 265-ish, then added back in some cals to get me around 275 for meets. With my injury I stayed 275-280, and that's where I am now.